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Thursday, June 02, 2011

St. Lucie Government Center ALL-LIES AT 6:30pm

A very light turn out less than 50 souls showed up at Port St. Lucie city hall chambers to be serenaded by a real comedy song and dance team. It was spectacular, not a wit, not a lick, not an infinitesimal speck of truth in the whole evening.

The "honorable" Gayle* [I was once for planned parenthood-before it counted] explained that the WHOLE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS UNBELIEVABLY FOCUSED, on ONE THING, and ONE THING ONLY. JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS JOB (Sung to the tune of SPAM-SPAM-SPAM-SPAM).

The only problem, of course its just not true. She somehow didn't mention 18 anti-abortion bills. The privatization of prisons based on NO FACTS AT ALL! She did speak to privatization when she said - if a company does it, then GOVT - Shouldna!

She wax enthusiastically about the incredible effort the LEGISLATURE MADE to focus, on NOTHING BUT JOBS. When they mandated a requirement that all students take an online course with no funding that must've been a jobs bill. When they cut hundreds of jobs in social services and slashed school budgets that must've been a jobs bill too eh? You think?

Oh, and improving education by giving less money to students, and limiting teachers salaries and the unfunded mandates to require DIGITAL CLASSES. We all know how pervasive technology is, how many have computers, she positively twinkled. (SHE's so very cute - Just ask her!)

She also told the story about how small government republicans forged one GIGANTIC DEPARTMENT from 15 former agencies. It's all about transparency she said. And she said, coquettishly drawing an arc with the tip of her shoe... just like a family we all have to live within our means. Just like a family... Does everybody understand?

And we here to talk about the Medicaid changes just signed by the governor today.

A FLORIDA HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY NEWSLETTER [Homecare] characterized part of the MEDICAID REFORM this way

"A finalappropriations billapproved Friday also moves the Sunshine State to a single-source supplier for all Medicaid incontinence supplies. Schwinghammer called that move an "inappropriate, sweetheart deal" that amounts to lost incontinence supply business for HME providers in the state. According to Schwinghammer, the decision is the result of a major out-of-state company's long-term efforts to corner the market by advocating a competitive bid system that only it can likely win."

In a Georgetown Universitystudy of the medicaid pilot program (started by Jeb Bush) states"Children, parents and people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid have experienced enormous disruption as a result of plan turnover in Broward, Duval and surrounding counties. ... There is no clear evidence that the managed care pilot programs are saving money, and if they are whether it is through efficiencies or at the expense of needed care"

Clearly like the "LETS PRIVATIZE ALL THE PRISONS (South of Lake Okeechobee) DIRECTIVE" (by the grace & lobbying MUSCLE of Wakenhut) this Legislation is driven completely fact - free, strictly at the behest of the lobbyists checkbook.

The New York Times reported it this way "The pilot program appears to have been far from successful, according to the Georgetown report: H.M.O.’s fled because of low reimbursement rates. Among those leaving was WellCare, which left 55 percent of Duval County’s Medicaid patients in limbo. The company was later accused of cherry-picking Medicaid patients to maximize profits, and five of its former executives were indicted on fraud charges."

When after a thoroughly rote description of how we all must do more with less Senator Negron was asked since the republicans are so quick to compare the constraints on government to the same constraints on a family budget, why is the solution that every family uses to solve budgetary shortfalls that of adding more revenue - Why are additional revenues OFF THE TABLE. When floridians are told they must pay more for less services how are TAX BREAKS for LUXURY YACHTS and PRIVATE AIRPLANES off the table.

Looking nervously around for the nearest exit, he said, I can't speak for anybody else, but I told my constituents I would never raise taxes, then he broke out the OLD REPUB SAW - "we don't have a revenue problem we have a spending problem"... and besides he said, I never heard anyone in the minority side of the aisle, demanding taxes. No one stood up on the other side and demanded more taxes for my constituents.

You'll... want to continue... your presentation now Gayle, he said emphatically and dashed from the room. I had early congratulated Senator Negron, for taking spoken questions from actual constituents. I had spoken too quickly, Ms. Harrell had gotten the memo, she would only be taking written questions. Her aide read one softball after another.

When during the absolutely neutered question read by her aide the issue of electoral reform arose she said, once there were some people who tried to change their status - in the future our elections will be fairer. Less republicans? I said to hopefully?

There was one, useful fact, she told us that there would be a REDISTRICTING HEARING in Stuart in Early August 15th, 6-9pm at the Blake Library in Stuart. So there was one little fragment of fact provided after all.

Remember we don't tax corporations and YACHT SALES because we must all sacrifice... It's not a revenue problem its a spending, its a spending... its a spending problem.